Clip for locating and guiding two rods in a rattle free manner over a support

ABSTRACT

A UNITARY CLIP FOR LOCATING AND GUIDING TWO MOVABLE ROD-LIKE MEMBERS ACROSS A SUPPORT SURFACE, THE CLIP COMPRISING A BODY PORTION FORMED WITH MEANS PROJECTING FROM ONE SIDE FOR ATTACHING THE CLIP NON-ROTATABLY IN A NON-CIRCULAR APERTURE IN THE SUPPORT AND GENERALLY TSHAPED ROD-ENGAGING MEANS PROJECTING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BODY PORTION FOR ENGAGING THE TWO RODS, THE ROD ENGAGING MEANS COMPRISING A STEM AND TWO RESILIENT OPPOSITELY EXTENDING ARMS EACH OF WHICH OVERLIES THE BODY PORTION FOR CLAMPING A ROD THEREAGAINST, AND INCLUDING IN A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A PAIR OF UPSTANDING LUGS AT EACH END OF THE BODY PORTION WHICH ACT AS STOPS TO RETAIN THE RODS AGAINST LATERAL MOVEMENT OFF THE BODY PORTION OF THE CLIP.

p 19,1971 Y .1A.SEK RSN 3,555, 23

CLIP FOR LOCATING AND GUIDING TWO RODS IN A BATTLE FREE MANNER OVER A SUPPORT Filed Jan. 30, 1969 151% n BI /w 15 Y g 1:4- ??1 "Il 5 11' 25 22 i Y 24 FIGS 1| uL fi m-.5 r IJHYI/Z/ as 17 2% 12 1e 21 United States Patent US. Cl. 74-490 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A unitaryclip for locating and guiding two movable rod-like members across a support surface, the ClipiCOrnprising a body portion formed with means projecting from one side for attaching the clip non-rotatably in a non-circularaperture in the support and "generally T- shaped rod-engaging means projecting from the' other side of the body portion for engaging the two rods, the rod engaging means comprising a stem and two resilient oppositely extending arms each of which overlies the body portion for clamping a rod thereagainst, and including in a preferred embodiment a pair of upstanding lugs at each end of the body portion which act asstops to retain the rods against lateral movement off the body portion of the clip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a vehicle door, it is the normal practice to provide a lock at one side of the door and a handle which is spaced from the lock but connected thereto by a pair of lock-actuating rods. The rods lie adjacent the inside surface of the door panel and, in operation, are movable in opposite senses. It has been found that these lock-actuating rods tend to vibrate against the door panel and problems arise in providing a means for guiding and restraining the rods in such a manner that vibration is eliminated without restricting the free operative movement of the rods.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clip which will meet these requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWVINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation of a clip according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is an underplan of the clip of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the clip of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a section on line V-V of FIG. .1,

FIG. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, showing two cables secured against rattle and vibration by the clip of FIGS. 1 to 5, and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the aperture in the panel shown in FIG. 6.

Patented Jan. 19, 1971 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing a clip is indicated generally at 10 which is a one-piece moulding of a synthetic plastics material, for instance an acrylic resin.

The clip 10 comprises a body portion 10a formed by a flat, elongate base 11 and a flat diaphragm 12 beneath the base 11 and joined to the base by a vertical rib 13, a T-shaped. rod engaging member comprising a stem 31 and a pair of oppositely directed flexible arms '14 and 15 spaced from and overlying the base 11; and means for attaching the clip to a support comprising a foot 16 projecting downwardly from the diaphragm 12 and a rib 17, which also projects downwardly from the diaphragm and which is spaced from the foot 16.

The foot 16 is formed on each of its sides with grooves 18 and 19 adjacent the diaphragm '12 and with a projecting toe 20 having a camming face 21 which is inclined downwardly and away from the diaphragm.

A lug 22 projects upwardly from one end of the base 11 to close the gap between the base and the end of the arm 14 and a similar lug 23 projects upwardly from the other end of the base closing the gap between the base and the end of the arm 15.

The clip 10 is used, as shown in FIG. 6, to hold a pair of spaced rods 24 and 25 against rattle and vibration. 'The rods 24 and 25 comprise the lock operating rods of a vehicle door and run in parallel across the inside surface of the door panel 27. The panel 27 is formed with a slot 28 comprising a Wide portion 29 and a narrow portion 30, and the clip 10 is engaged in the slot 28 by passing the foot 16 through the wide portion 29 and then sliding the foot into the narrow portion 30 so that the toe 20 is located behind the panel, the rim of the narrow portion 30 is located in the grooves 18 and 19 and the rib 17 is located in the wide portion 29.

When the clip 10 is attached in the aperture, the camming surface draws the diaphragm 12 down flat against the panel 27 and the aperture is closed by the diaphragm 12 so that dust and water cannot penetrate easily through the aperture. The arms 14 and 15 of the clip 10 are then lifted away from the lugs 22 and 23 and the rods 24 and 25 are slid between the arms 14 and 15 respectively and the base 11.

The diameter of each of the rods 24 and 25 is such that the arms 14 and 15 bear resiliently against the rods to prevent vibration of the rods. In use the rods 24 and 25 move in opposite directions along their respective axes and impart a torque to the clip 10 which is resisted by engagement of the rib 17 and the foot 16 against the sides of the slot 28. The rods are thus free to slide axially through the clip but are prevented by the clip from vibrating or rattling against each other or against the panel 27 and are also prevented by the lugs 22 and 23 from sliding laterally off the body portion 10a.

What I claim is:

'1. A unitary clip for locating and guiding movable rodlike members, the clip comprising a body portion having an undersurface, means integral with and projecting from the undersurface of the body portion for attaching the clip non-rotatably in a non-circular aperture in a support and a generally T-shaped rod-engaging member projecting from the other side of the body portion, the rod-engaging member comprising an upstanding stem and two resilient oppositely extending arms each of which overlies the body portion and is adapted to clamp a rod thereagainst, the said arms being adapted to flex longitudinally with respect to the body portion when the arms are in operative clamping engagement with the rod-like members.

2. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upstanding lug is provided at each end of the body portion and each lug projects upwardly towards the free end of an arm to act as a stop to retain a rod between the arm and the body portion.

3. A clip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said means for attaching the clip non-rotatably in a non-circular aperture comprises a foot and a rib, both projecting outwardly from the undersurface of the body portion and spaced from one another so as to locate in opposite ends of an elongate aperture, the foot being provided with a camming surface facing away from the rib and inclined to the undersurface of the body portion, the camming surface being adapted to engage behind the rim of the aperture in the support when the clip is attached thereto.

4. A clip for locating and guiding movable rod-like members, the clip comprising a body portion having an undersurface, means projecting from the undersurface of the body portion for attaching the clip non-rotatably in a non-circular aperture in a support and a generally T- shaped rod-engaging member projecting from the other side of the body portion, the rod-engaging member comprising an upstanding stem and two resilient oppositel extending arms each of which overlies the body portion and is adapted to clamp a rod thereagainst, and stop means adjacent each end of the body portion substantially spanning the gap between the body portion and the adjacent arm to retain a rod therebetween.

5. A clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said sto means comprises an upstanding lug which projects upwardly from the body portion towards the free end of an 4 adjacent arm to retain a rod between the said arm and the body portion.

6. An assembly comprising movable rod-like members located and guided across a support by a clip, said clip comprising a body portion having an undersurface, means integral with and projecting from the undersurface of the body portion fastening the clip to the support, and a generally T-shaped rod-engaging member projecting from the other side of the body portion, the rod-engaging member including an upstanding stem and two resilient, oppositely extending arms each of which overlies the body portion and at least one of the rod-like members whereby the rod-like members are movably clamped against the body portion, the arms being free to flex longitudinally with respect to the body portion and the rod like members in the assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,240,562 9/1917 Gratfam 74490 1,380,169 5/1921 Withsow 74-490 3,049,585 8/1962 Cochran 248-71X 3,066,902 12/1962 Conil 2487lUX MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24871 

